Plug-tobacco cutter.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

JOHN H. BASVSETT, 0F LIBERTY, MISSOURI.

PLUG-TOBACCO CUTTER.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, JOHN H. BAssETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Liberty, in thevcounty of Clay and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plug-Tobacco Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to plug-tobacco cutters, and my object is to produce a device of this character in which the blade is caused to perform its cutting function through the operation of foot-power mechanism and is returned to its normal position by means of a spring.

A further object is to produce a reliable and efficient device of this character of simple, strong, durable and cheap construction.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of a footpower plug-tobacco cutter embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is a central vertical section of the same.

In the said drawing, 1 indicates a heinispherical or equivalent-shaped base provided with a iiange 2 through which bolts 3 or screws extend to fasten it to the floor or other support. The base is provided with a radial slot 4 and with an upwardly projecting internally threaded boss 5 wherein is screwed the lower end of a gas pipe 6 and screwed upon the upper end of the gas pipe is a coupling 7 8 is a seini-circular table or shelf provided with a depending rib 9 and an arcuate arm 10. The rear ends of the rib and arm terminate in vertically-alined sleeves 12 and 13 respectively', the passages 14 and 15 respectively of said sleeves being of angular form and depending from sleeve 13 is a threaded stem 16 adapted to be screwed down into coupling 7. The table is also provided with a preferably dove-tail groove 17 wherein is secured a strip 18 of lead or equivalent material, and the table is also provided at its straight rear margin with a scale 19 in inches and fractions thereof, as a gage for cutting pieces of the proper size from a tobacco plug which rests upon the table or shelf in the cutting operation.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 2v, 1909.

vPatented Jan. 4, 1910. Serial No. 510,860.

20 is a cutting blade overhanging the lead or equivalent strip and riveted or otherwise rigidly secured in the forked upper end 21 of an angular shank 22 extending slidingly and non-rotatably through the passages of sleeves 12 and 13 and into the upper end of pipe 6, and extending through the pipe 6 and secured at its upper end to the shank 22 is a stiff rod 23 pivotally connected at its lower end within base 1 to a foot-lever 24 pivoted or fulcruined at 25 to and within the base and projecting throuOh the slot 4 and terminating in a flattened fre'e end 26 whereon the operator places his foot to apply the pressure necessary to cause the blade 20 to descend and sever the tobacco plug, a retractile spring 27 arranged within the pipe being secured at its upper end to the pipe as at 28 and at its lower end at 29 to the rod 23 for the purpose of normally holding the blade elevated above the strip to permit the plug to be readily secured upon the table or shelf at the desired point of adjustment.

Assuming that the tobacco plug has been adjusted properly upon the table or shelf with respect to the scale thereon, the operator applies foot-pressure to force lever 24 downward andthus cause the blade to sever a piece of the desired size from the plug, the lead strip arresting the downward movement of the blade without injury thereto. In this action spring 27 is placed under tension so that it will instantly relevate the cutting blade when the foot pressure t, is removed from the lever. It will thus be seen that by means of this device the tobacco may be cut quickly, easily, accurately and with practically no exertion on the part of the operator.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a plug tobacco cutter embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable and which is obviously susceptible of modification in minor particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire vto secure by Letters Patent, is

A plug tobacco cutter comprising a hemispherical hollow base provided with a radial slot and with an upwardly projecting boss, a vertical pipe secured at its lower end in said boss, a lever pivoted to the base and projecting through the slot thereof, a coupling secured upon the upper end of the pipe, a horizontal table provided with a depending rib and arm terminating at their rear ends be-V yond the rear edge of the table in vertical sleeves having alined angular passages, the sleeve of the arm proj eoting into and being secured to said coupling; said table also having a transverse scale near its rear edge and a central groove extending from its front to its rear edge, a eoinpressible strip secured in said groove, a cutting blade overhanging said strip, a shank carrying said blade and extending slidingly and non.e rotatably through the sleeves of said rib and arm and l .Y intotheuppereiid of theipipe, a. rod connecting the lower end of the' shank With said lever, and a'retraetile spring surrounding the rod and secured at its upper end to the pipe and at its lower end to said rod.

In testimony whereof I aiix iny signature, in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN H. BASSETT.

Vitnesses r R. A. DAVIDSON, JOHN M. NEWLIE. 

